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Where We Serve: St. Petersburg

Quick Facts

Life in the City

There is so much to do around where we live—we could go to any number of great beaches, Busch Gardens is very close and all the theme parks in Orlando are only a few hours away. There are always events going on nearby… it’s a happening place!

For more information about ACE, including how to apply, click HERE.

St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg is a wonderful place to live and teach. In addition to hosting the Service through Teaching program, this community welcomes several other arms of ACE, including ACE Academies. In fact, one could say that the amount of ACE activity in St. Petersburg makes it feel like Notre Dame away from home. Our community lives in Pinellas Park on a peninsula between the Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. We are a short drive from the city of Tampa and several great beaches.

Teachers Serving This Community

  • Benjamin Horton

    Benjamin Horton | ACE 19

    Teaches Middle School Social Studies at Holy Family School

    What are you most looking forward to about your ACE site?

    My community members are wonderful. I am excited to live with them and learn from them in all aspects of the ACE experience. It is an amazing opportunity to share with caring, compassionate and fun people who prioritize spirituality and service to others.

    Background

    B.A. History, St. Anselm College
    Originally from Manchester, NH
  • Brianna Hohman

    Brianna Hohman | ACE 19

    Teaches 2nd Grade at St. Joseph

    What's been the best moment of your ACE experience so far?

    I really enjoyed the bowling outing we took as an ACE community. It signaled the merging of the 18s and 19s and also allowed each community within ACE to identify themselves as a group by geographical location and culture- in hysterical costumes!

    Background

    B.A. Spanish and PreProfessional, University of Notre Dame
    Originally from Virginia Beach, VA
  • Tracy Lyons

    Tracy Lyons | ACE 18

    Teaches High School Math at St. Petersburg Catholic High School

    Background

    B.S. Mathematics with a minor in Education, Schooling, and Society, University of Notre Dame
    Originally from St. Louis, MO
  • Kate Bulfin

    Kate Bulfin | ACE 18

    Teaches 4th Grade at Sacred Heart Catholic School, Notre Dame Ace Academy

    How has ACE shaped your spiritual life?

    I have grown to know myself more spirtiually this year and have been shown that it is not just me helping myself to grow but also my community members and the students I teach. They have changed me a lot this past year.

    Background

    B.A. Education, Mary Immaculate College
    Originally from Mungret, Co. Limerick, Ireland
  • Ashley Logsdon

    Ashley Logsdon | ACE 19

    Teaches High School Science at Tampa Catholic High School

    Why did you say 'yes' to serving with ACE?

    I said "yes" to ACE because I yearn to share my love of biology and to be of service to Catholic schools. For me, service through teaching in ACE is a way I can express my gratitude for my blessings by giving of myself to others. I trust that ACE will help me become an excellent teacher and prepare me to continue to serve far beyond this two-year commitment.

    Background

    B.S. Biology and Theology, University of Notre Dame
    Originally from Pickerington, OH
  • Matthew Cirillo

    Matthew Cirillo | ACE 19

    Teaches High School Science at Tampa Catholic High School

    What has been an ACE summer class that you've enjoyed so far?

    My favorite class this summer was Introduction to High School. It was wonderful thinking about the classroom environment, the type of teacher I will be, and how I look to implement the things I value into the classroom. The class was extremely engaging with thought provoking activities making me question exactly how I could be the most effective teacher possible. It was in this class that I thought of myself as a teacher for the first time.

    Background

    B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame
    Originally from Huntingtown, MD

  • Patrick Graff | ACE 18

    Teaches 3rd Grade at Incarnation Catholic

    What is your favorite teaching moment?

    Everyday is an adventure when teaching third grade. There are so many times every day that I just want to break down laughing. But, beyond the daily hilarity, there were those moments where a student just got it, and with a couple of well placed questions, they were soon leading their classmates to a new realization. I taught The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe this year, and some of my students really connected with the message and were able to connect it back to the Gospel story in very specific ways. When you reach the point where students have become the teachers, you take with you a sense of victory from that lesson.

    Background

    B.A. Philosophy and Chinese with a minor in Politics and Economics, University of Notre Dame
    Originally from El Dorado Hills, CA
  • Benjamin Horton
  • Brianna Hohman
  • Tracy Lyons
  • Kate Bulfin
  • Ashley Logsdon
  • Matthew Cirillo
  • Patrick Graff

Schools We Serve

ACE teachers serve at the following schools: